Alderney receives £2.3m from island’s gambling commission

More than £2.3m of profit has been given to Alderney by the island’s gambling commission.

Alderney Gambling Control Commission has regulated online gambling on behalf of the States of Alderney since 2000.

The independent commission provided £2.35m in 2023, £636,000 more than in 2022 due to a “strong rebound by the online gambling sector worldwide” from the Covid-19 pandemic, the States said.

The States has allocated £1.85m to capital spending and just over £496,000 to States-owned Alderney eGambling Limited (AeGL) which takes new inquiries about licensing in Alderney.

The island’s capital spending budget was £1.5m in 2023.

Policy and Finance Committee chairman Nigel Vooght said the island had more than halved its revenue budget deficit to £222,000.

The deficit would be met from accumulated reserves which remain at a “reasonable level”, said Mr Vooght.

The deficit was brought about by the additional costs associated with the change in ownership of the island’s primary care provision in 2022, together with the need to create a robust ambulance service, he said.

“It should be recognised that this has taken a significant effort by everyone across all States departments and committees working together to achieve this result,” he said.

“We are in a reasonable fiscal position and we remain committed to looking at new opportunities to generate income.

“We must also continue to make efficiencies wherever possible whilst ensuring funding is available so that staff have adequate resources to continue to provide high quality services to the community.”